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Reviews
The Ghostess with the Mostess (1988)
Cute but by the numbers
Cute comedy from de Renzy finds Joey SIlvira moving his family into a house that has two very horny ghosts. It's the most basic of plots to get the near non-stop sex from kicking off but unlike his later "Rex Borsky" tapes de Renzy does find lots of little moments that actually add to the characters and the comedy. It's far from de Renzy's best, and I think this kind of wall to wall sex comedy was better done by him in THE BIG THRILL, but as I said at the top, this one was cute but a bit by the numbers. It makes this one the type of film where nothing is really wrong with it, but there's nothing really exceptional either.
Submission (1994)
Looks Great, but Workman-like.
A showcase for Chasey Lain, she stars as a young woman learning the ropes of servitude for her master Jon Dough. Only there's no ropes and the training mainly seems to be standing around looking gorgeous like a piece of furniture since in 1994 you legally couldn't really show BDSM in a hardcore picture. It makes for a very workman-like production with Lain never generating any level of heat to match her supermodel looks. Even a threesome featuring Tiffany Mynx as a dominant top fails to bring Lain out of her shell. It all makes for a missed opportunity and everyone involved is featured in better productions.
Load Warrior II: The Second Coming (1987)
Step Down From The First Film But Still Fun
Following the events of the last film, gang members Sharon Mitchell and Angel Kelly go on the hunt to release a bioweapon Porsche Lynn to get them from out from under the yoke that the men now benefit from as seed carriers. This one manages to be lower quality and dumber than the first one, and it suffers a bit not having Peter North in the lead but overall it's not the worst thing you can put on. The rest of the cast is fun, Mitchell chews the scenery and Lynn is legit funny as the weapon. That said, if you're not into the cast there isn't much else here to entice you.
The Load Warrior (1987)
Better than decent Mad Max remix
As far as Road Warrior/Mad Max rips go, you can do a lot worse than this one. In post apocalyptic America, semen is the main trade and power source and the lower the radiation content the better. Women run everything, with men reduced to milk-factories. Of course, "Beer Can" Peter North is perfectly cast in the lead. This one is pretty stupid, but they play it straight and the cast is fine with Lois Ayres really chewing the scenery.
Lust on the Orient Xpress (1986)
A Film So Good They Forgot The Porn Part
Leslie and Carrera are Nick & Nora - yes THAT Nick & Nora, right down to the little white pup dog - who take a train trip for writing inspiration and get mixed up in a murder once it's discovered a rare jewel is on board. There's a lot to like in this. Numerous callbacks to the legendary pulp detectives, career high performances by Leslie and Eric Edwards and a setting that looks great all elevate this one production wise. The problem with it is the porn part feels more extraneous than part of it, taking a back seat to the rest of the picture. I found that despite its overall quality it was a bit of a patience tester.
Erotique (2003)
Plays like background noise.
This one is a series of very stylish scenes primarily featuring Jesse Jane, The cast is gorgeous, and Jane is a firecracker. The problem with this is that it wants to play like an Andrew Blake feature and just completely misses the mark. The result is scenes that feel like background or music videos for music you'd never buy and while they are well crafted they are want for any true erotic heat. So while the film looks great it ends up doing the performers a disservice.
The Challenge (1990)
Who knew S&M Could Be So Fun
Edward has found a woman (Jeanna Fine) so unruly that he bets Mistress Bianca that even she can't break her in this BDSM film from Bruce Seven. Director Seven in the '90s really nailed the male gaze version of all girl features, with his Buttslammers and Where the Girls Sweat series both racking up sale previously unseen. This is the first of his BDSM themed videos I've seen, these were not available in my nook of the world when they were coming out. I picked this one up based solely on cast and I'm delighted by how fun this one was. The tone is more teasing/seductive in strength as opposed to brutal for the S&M, and the women are all pretty great. Zara Whites and Fine show real heat in their scenes together, and you can't go wrong with Tianna. These videos are always a little dopey, but Seven nails it. I'm going to be checking out more.
In Love (1983)
Vincent delivers a compelling film
This one examines the long term ramifications of a perfect weekend fling. Chuck Vincent does a great job presenting the melodrama and the film is packed with the smooth polish and professionalism that is usually so lacking in adult. Jerry Butler and Kelly Nichols put in some career best performances as the star-crossed lovers who find their separate lives incomplete without each other after that weekend. If there's any problem with this one is that it's a bit lacking in the heat department for an adult feature. Vincent clearly had other things in mind, and largely succeeds in delivering a compelling, adult hardcore narrative. Those looking for more physical stimulation may find it lacking.
Deep Inside Centerfold Girls (1991)
Dark Hits His Stride in the 90s
An investigative look into exhibitionism and why women would want to exploit themselves as "Centerfold Girls". Greg Dark takes the form of the old "white coaters" and completely subverts it in this one that manages to be as funny as it is sexy. The cast is great. The film is bookended by scenes with Selena Steele and Ashlyn Gere. Steele has the looks of classic Hollywood glamour in her John Leslie melodramas which Dark subverts with a borderline ridiculous punk cave woman look while Gere gets to play it very sweet and innocent in the intro to her scene, again playing against type. Inbetween are the usual Dark surreal themed scenes with Tianna especially standing out. If there's a knock to this one it's the very generic 90s porno soundtrack which is only notable due to Dark usually using better music. I believe this one came out just before NEW WAVE HOOKERS II, and it really finds Dark hitting his stride both with the plots and the sex working together as a whole. Dark has made slicker movies, but this one and BETWEEN THE CHEEKS II really show him solidifying his vision.
Wild Dallas Honey (1982)
Successful Melodrama Lacking Heat.
This adult melodrama stars Honey Wilder who's past has her question her life as her first husband comes out of prison and she's since married into comfort, not to mention her best friend played by Sharon Mitchell that's struggling in an abusive relationship. It's a plot first porno where the sex is part of the story and the actors pull it off wonderfully. I'd rate it higher but it's a bit too soapy for my personal taste, but hats off to everyone for making a proper drama with some novel sex scenes laced through it that enhance the story.
Between the Cheeks 2 (1990)
Dark Levels Up and Delivers a Study in Madness and Perversion
I believe Greg Dark returned to hardcore after a brief hiatus with this one starring Rip Hyman as a pimp telling the viewer about the game, only he's actually in a hospital and paranoid about aliens wanting to live in our colons. Revisiting this one, the sex almost feels secondary to the bananas plot, but it does work with many of the stars, especially Bionca and Debbi Diamond having a couple of scorchers. So while it may lack a little polish, it is a punk level-up form what came before, and viewers may find themselves skimming the sex to get back to the legit entertaining story.
Summer Camp Girls (1983)
An Easy Breezy Comedy
Gary Garver directs this breezy comedy about a rich girl (the gorgeous Shauna Grant) who gets sent to summer camp only to get caught up in the pent up sexual hijinks of the other campers. There's nothing to this as far as any real depth, it's simply a light hearted comedy with a winning cast that manages to be fun instead of corny like most adult features in this genre. So while it's not challenging, it is a wonderful adult feature to spend some time with that has great pacing and each performer gets a chance to shine.
Debbie Loves Dallas (2007)
Fun If Not Fully Successful Take On The Adult Classic
(0408)I'm conflicted with this one and the few movies I've seen from McKai. This take on the classic series is Debbie has a crush on Pinky, the cool leader of her favourite band Dallas and is competing with her gal pals to get in his pants. For the most part it's fun and the gals in the cast are all great. DeArmond steals the show, but lead Cassidey and rival Charlotte Stokely hold their own. Not to mention a pre-stardom Stoya in a fun non-sex bit part showing a ton of charisma. The issue is presentation. McKai packs this with style but at many points it feels at odds with the sex instead of harmonious. Like the sex is something that has to be included instead of showcased. So while it's entertaining, I'm not sure it's completely successful.
Memoires of a Chamber Maid (1987)
A Strong Couples Oriented Feature
Eric Edwards directs an adult "couples" feature in which author Krista Lane finds an old diary of erotic stories and awakens naughty spirits. This one is really well done, the performers do a good job and Edwards manages to present legitimately tender sex scenes that would be expected with this adult genre. If there's any knock it's the era and budget from which it was made deprives it from the visual lushness it deserves but what's here is good if maybe lacking a bit in the heat department for those conditioned to more traditional hardcore.
Amanda by Night 2 (1988)
Doesn't Live Up To The Classic First Film
Jack Remy directs this follow-up to the classic, and manages to get Veronica Hart to appear in a non-sex role. That's about all there is to tie this with the first film though, as call girl Krista Lane gets mixed up in a murder investigation when detective Robert Bolluck braces her for help. Problem with this one is that by '88 adult was playing it pretty safe, so there are little sleazy thrills to be found and it plays out pretty straight. Thankfully the actual sex scenes are all good with lead Lane doing a great job holding the film together and having secret weapon Nina Hartley in the cast certainly helps. So while this one isn't a failure by any means, those looking for hardcore thrills should find them here, it does have the problem of having a huge shadow cast over it from the classic original that it just can't overcome.
Amanda by Night (1981)
Veronica Hart Shines in this Adult Classic
Veronica Hart stars as Amanda, a high priced call girl who sends a couple of her friends out on a job with a freaky city council dude where things go really bad. Gary Graver directs this one and does a great job of balancing the sexy style for the sex scenes with a legitimately good cirme thriller. Hart absolutely shines in the lead, easily carrying the film. What elevates this one is all the cast get a chance to strut their acting chops. Samantha Fox is brilliantly broken as hooker with a habit, Lisa De Leeuw nails her role as a newbie girl and is pure sex in fetish gear. Robert Kirkman is so good as a homicide cop that you wish he had a weekly TV show and Ron Jeremy stands out as a sleaze bag (to the surprise of no one).
A rare adult feature where if you cut all the hardcore out of this one it would still be a great film. This one needs a restoration as more modern eyes need to see it.
Prostitution clandestine (1975)
Typical For The Era, Just Really Well Done.
This early hardcore feature form the prolific French director Payet is a look at the lives of "Photo-Models" a barely coded profession of porstitution where the men can pay a little extra to get more than pictures. It's light on story to the point of barely having one, instead focusing on vignettes of the different appointments. It's pretty standard stuff, but so well done and the variety is enough that it keeps things fresh. That said, one segment is really strong stuff that will be quite shocking to modern viewers.
Furies sexuelles (1976)
More successful as a sleazy drama than a traditional Adult.
A young woman loses her job and finds money on the nightstand after a one nighter which is her introduction into prostitution. This hardcore effort from France is a real head turner. This one could best be boiled down as a roughie, but it's far more complicated than that. It's a hardcore picture where none of the sex is really presented as sexy, challenging the viewer to keep with it as the character study melodrama keeps ramping up and getting more extreme. So as a porn it may not be a total success to some looking for a wank, but it's a hell of a picture if you're looking for a sleazy drama.
Backdoor Bonanza 12 (1989)
As Generic a Compilation You Will Find
This one features a Greg Dark directors credit on IMDB but don't be fooled. This is as generic a compilation as you will find, I'm guessing created based more on rights ownership than any artistic intent. Two clips are from Dark's "Between The Cheeks" which is why the credit is here and they are high lights mostly for being so surreal compared to the other scenes present. So while there's nothing actually wrong with this, if you want "backdoor" sex scenes these all fit the bill. It's really nothing special or worthwhile and in 2021, completely irrelevant.
Spitfire (1985)
Mid-Level Cecil Howard is Better Than Most
A man running for Governor is trying to keep all the skeletons in the closet in this comedy from Cecil Howard. Plot wise it's nothing all that special, it plays things pretty straight for an adult comedy which tend to be broad and more than a little eye-rolling which makes this one stand out more special than it probably is. The casting helps too, with R. Bolla as the governor and a who's who of legends backing him up. So while compared to other Howard films it may not be top tier, it still manages to be better than most of the other adult titles you'll stumble across.
Firestorm (1984)
An intriguing story packed with scorching sex
This melodrama from the legendary director Cecil Howard finds writer Eric Edwards getting involved with the scandals and skeletons of a family when he's hired to write a biography of matriarch Kay Parker. This one works on all levels. The quality and performances of the story could find this one comfortably scheduled as a weekly series with night time soaps Dynasty and Dallas from the era if not for the hardcore sex. You don't want to miss the sex either, scorching hot with a dynamite cast, this is another homerun from Howard and shows what the adult genre is capably of when it's not trying to shock.
Taxi Girls (1979)
Fun Comedy With A Mean Streak
A stand-up comedian that's hooking to pay the bills gets tired of the cop rousts and rounds up some of her hooker pals to form a taxi cab company as a cover. It's a pretty typical comedy with some fun scenes and an enjoyable cast that does a complete flip in the last third to become startlingly rough as a rival cab company comes at them for vengeance. It makes for a unique experience and helps this one to stand out from the pack.
Frat House (1979)
Worth it for the Ladies Involved.
An ANIMAL HOUSE rip, this one fines a group of frat bros trying to get laid. Problem with this one is that none of the main studs are all that interesting and none of the gags really work. What saves this one, or at least makes it watchable, is having Lisa De Leeuw and Tawny Pearl in the cast. Both ladies have enough charisma to make it worth a watch, just be prepared to have to sit through a pretty painful narrative. It's too bad they didn't cast studs to match the talents of the ladies.
High School Fantasies (1974)
More Interesting for the Cast and Crew than a Movie
Between Rene Bond being in it and it also being an early directed film from cult horror director James Bryan it's hard to not go into this one with some expectations. I found it frustrating. It's basically a play on an "American Graffiti" kind of thing, looking back at pre-Kennedy high school days with a hopeless version getting mixed up with a spanish fly to try to get laid. There's pranks and what not, but presentation wise it's a it of a mess overall. When you have Bond as a star and the most memorable thing about the movie are the dead on song parodies, there's issues.
Razördolls (2006)
Notable for An Early Stoya appearance
A series of clips featuring "Alt Girls" from the era. Sasha Grey and Annette Heinze would be the big names, but this one is probably more notable for an early appearance from Stoya, one of her first. Some nice visuals but the hardcore metal soundtrack does it no favours, taking away from the scenes more than it adds.